Bishop Vincent Guo Xijin Celebrates Anniversary Mass Under Isolation
(Fujian, China – March 5, 2025) A bishop from the Diocese of Mindong in Fujian, China, presided over the anniversary Mass of his ordination to the priesthood while under isolation.
AsiaNews reported that an auxiliary bishop celebrated the anniversary of his ordination while under residential isolation. A video from the news agency shows the bishop meeting with the faithful and distributing communion through the bars of a chained gate during the shutdown of the chapel at his residence.
This was the only way for him to administer Holy Communion.
A 40-Year Milestone of Bishop Vincent Guo Xijin Marked by Restrictions
January 25 marked a significant day for the 67-year-old Bishop Vincent Guo Xijin as he celebrated the 40th anniversary of his ordination.
Another video shows Bishop Guo with a smile on his face behind a gate secured with chains as he celebrated his anniversary, handing a piece of cake through the iron bars to the faithful visiting him.
The video also captures the faithful passing rosaries and religious objects through the gate, waiting for the bishop’s blessing.
Chinese authorities restricted access to the small chapel at his residence to prevent the faithful from visiting him. Historically, the Catholic “underground” Church in northern Fujian has been very strong.
Increased Government Restrictions and Pressure by the Chinese Authorities
Sources say that since Christmas, Bishop Vincent Guo Xijin has faced even tighter restrictions. Authorities are using this kind of punishment to apply a new round of pressure on local clergy, forcing them to submit and join the state-sanctioned church organizations. Bishop Guo and other priests in northern Fujian have refused to comply.
Videos concerning Bishop Vincent Guo Xijin’s situation were recorded just weeks after Bishop Joseph Vincent Zhan Silu of Mindong participated in the Vatican’s Synod in October 2024. The release of the videos also came just days after Bishop Joseph Cai Bingrui of Xiamen was approved by the Vatican to be transferred to the Diocese of Fuzhou.
These bishops, who are jointly recognized by both the Chinese government and the Vatican, have not addressed Bishop Vincent Guo Xijin’s situation under residential isolation.
Bishop Guo Xijin’s Sacrifice to step down for the Unity of the Church
Bishop Vincent Guo Xijin (spiritual name: Vincenzo, born December 20, 1958 — ) was the ordinary bishop of the Diocese of Funing (Diocese of Mindong). He is a bishop of the Chinese “underground” Catholic Church, recognized by the Vatican but is not acknowledged by the Chinese government.
On September 22, 2018, when China and the Vatican signed a provisional agreement, Pope Francis requested that Bishop Guo make a “sacrifice” to maintain the unity of the Catholic Church in China and ensure the signing of the agreement. The agreement required Bishop Guo to step down from his position as the ordinary, allowing Bishop Vincent Zhan Silu, recognized by the government, previously excommunicated but reinstated by Pope Francis, to take over.
On January 16, 2020, Bishop Vincent Guo Xijin was forcibly evicted from the bishop’s residence, the Luojiang Catholic Church in Fuan City, by the government, along with several clergy members who had worked with him. Later, on October 4, 2020, Bishop Guo voluntarily resigned from his position as auxiliary bishop, withdrew from all public activities, and stepped away from the diocesan administration.
The Impact of the Vatican-China Agreement on Underground Bishops
Throughout his ministry, Bishop Vincent Guo Xijin was arrested and imprisoned multiple times. On April 7, 2017, he was summoned by the Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs of Fuan, authorities forced Bishop Guo to participate in a 20-day re-education course. He was released on May 6 of the same year. On March 25, 2018, the government took him away again to prevent him from presiding over the Chrism Mass scheduled for March 28 in his capacity as a bishop. Later that year, he was taken away by the Chinese police and forcibly disappeared for refusing to co-preside over the Easter liturgy with Bishop Zhan Silu, who was then an illegitimate bishop.
Five years later, this Vatican-recognized Chinese underground Catholic bishop was forced to step aside for Bishop Zhan Silu of the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association. He is now confined to his residence, with a conspicuous chain locking the huge gate to prevent visits from the faithful.
The provisional agreement between the Vatican and Beijing came at the cost of underground Chinese bishops stepping down and being coerced into joining the state-sanctioned Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association after undergoing indoctrination sessions imposed by the authorities. In exchange, only a superficial unity was achieved. The chain imposed by the Chinese authorities on the gate certainly does nothing to foster communion between the “official” and “underground” churches. The goal of unity among Catholics remains far from realized.
(Reported by Special Correspondent Gao Zhensai of ChinaAid)